Watery Eyes (Epiphora)

Tears are produced mainly by the lacrimal gland which sits in the outer corner of the upper eyelids. Tears are designed to lubricate the surface of the eye and also contain antibacterial properties. A good tear film is required to get good vision through the clear corneal window at the front of the eye and the tears are renewed after every blink of the eyelids. Having washed over the surface lining of the eye the tears drain away into the nose. There is a "plug hole" (punctum) in the inner corner of both the upper and lower eyelids. These are connected to narrow tubes called canaliculi which join together (to form the common canaliculus) just before entering a small pouch called the lacrimal sac. From here the tears drain down a longer, wider tube known as the naso-lacrimal duct into the nose.